I have read a couple of Riley Sager’s novels, but “Middle of the Night” is my favorite!
The novel has great characters, brought up fun memories of childhood summers and had a mysterious, spooky edge to it.
This story takes place on a quiet, middle-class New Jersey cul-de-sac. In 1994, Ethan and Billy were 10 year old best friends, who had a summer tradition of camping out in the backyard every Friday night. Now 30 years have passed, and Ethan has spent all of that time consumed with guilt and questions – because Billy disappeared from the tent on their last childhood campout and was never found. Ethan has had a recurring dream about that night, but can’t remember whose face he saw outside their tent. Ethan is now returning to his childhood home, with a teaching job in a nearby town, and he is determined to find out what happened to his friend. Was Billy kidnapped? Is Billy dead or alive? Who seems to be ‘haunting’ Ethan’s backyard? What secrets are hidden behind neighbors’ doors?
I loved the complexity of this novel – I wasn’t sure who to trust or what to believe! There are quite a few twists and turns – and what an ending! This novel started out a little slow, but give it a chance because it really kept me hooked. The wonderful characters all had a chance to give their points of view in certain chapters, and the topics of grief and friendship would make terrific book club discussions. “Middle of the Night” kept me guessing right up until the end!